Yale University Scholar Speaks at Parchman Endowed Lectures

Dr. Lamin Sanneh, a professor of history at Yale University, will speak about New World Christianity, anti-slavery and evangelical revival during lectures Oct. 13-15 at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

Sanneh teaches at Yale Divinity School at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. His lectures are part of the Parchman Endowed Lectures, which feature renowned theologians.

The theme of his three lectures will be Connecting World Christianity: New World Parameters. He will explore the historical roots of the emergence of global Christianity by looking at developments in the New World.

The evangelical revival brought Christianity to New World Africans -- both slave and free. That was the first significant mass conversion in the modern era among non-European populations, he said.

Sanneh's lectures will be in the seminary's Paul W. Powell Chapel on the Baylor campus. The seminary is at 1100 S. Third St.

Dr. Sanneh was born in Gambia of royal African lineage. He is editor-at-large of The Christian Century, contributing editor of the International Bulletin of Missionary Research and editor of Oxford Studies in World Christianity.

Sanneh was also appointed by Pope John Paul II to the Pontifical Commission of the Historical Sciences.

Sanneh says that many significant things happened to define his mission in life.

"I converted to Christianity when I was in high school and embarked thereafter on the scholarly study of religion, both Islam and Christianity," he said.

He has authored more than 100 articles and several books, including Disciples of All Nations: Pillars of World Christianity; Whose Religion is Christianity: The Gospel Beyond the West; and Translating the Message: The Missionary Impact on Culture.

For more information about Dr. Sanneh or his lecture, visit http://www.baylor.edu/truett/index.php?id=22186